The silver linings

Steve Benen notes that there is a bright side to the "shellacking" Dems took in the House. It changes the dynamic in Washington making the Senate a much less important body than it was when Dems controlled the House and the Senate, with the latter absent a filibuster-proof majority. That means a few certain Senators may be a bit less welcome on the Sunday morning idiot shows.

There are still some responsibilities that are unique to the upper chamber -- judicial nominees, treaties, etc. -- but chances are, the political world will be obsessing less on a daily basis over what kind of mood Lieberman, Ben Nelson, and the Maine senators are in.